NATIONS are built on an idea and principles.
Our future comes to fruition on the basis of our core principles as a nation.
We formulate our strategies, policies and programmes from an idea.
And that idea is what brings people together; what forms our nation and, most crucially, what gives us the strength to forge ahead.
This country is no exception.
We have walked through the painful path of bringing to fruition our idea.
Significantly, ours is an idea that is founded on the values and virtues of total independence and empowerment of our people.
It has not gone without capturing the global eye.
We labour today under unrestrained abuse from the West because of that idea.
Mothballs of Western anger today threaten to consume us because of that idea.
Even diplomatic etiquette has gone to the dogs.
The principle of respect for sovereign territories has been thrown out the window.
The enemy out there has feasted on our divisions — but not anymore, we must do better.
A broken mindset can never develop a country.
Until we unite, only can we see the prosperity of our nations in Africa.
There is absolutely no harm in us uniting.
There is nothing that can stop us from bringing our minds together for the greater good of our country.
We cannot be stopped by anyone or anything in pursuing our destiny.
We cannot be dictated to by outsiders on how to run our affairs.
We cannot be stopped from running our economy the way we want.
We cannot be stopped from tilling our land and producing for the country and the world.
There is nothing that can deter us from unearthing our minerals the way we want.
Nation building is not an overnight process.
It takes so many things to achieve it.
Immense sacrifices create the path towards attaining that thrust.
Dedication and unbridled commitment drive the objective of nation building.
It is the people who work for the nation, who drive the national agenda, who formulate and implement it.
Our greatest asset as a nation has been our ability to weather storms.
We have broken barriers.
We have conquered where it matters most.
Because of that attribute, the world has set its sight firmly on us.
Part of the world aggrieved by our ideas has waged a serious war against us.
The progressive ones have since come to our rescue by joining hands with us for a good reason.
They have duly supported our cause.
We applaud those who are on our side and the table still has some seats left.
What we possess is enough to cater for everyone, satisfying both us, the locals and outsiders.
The masses, naturally, will be at the forefront of exploiting our resources.
Equally, they should use those resources to develop their communities.
That should be done with the future in mind.
We should command our minds to the idea that it is none but ourselves who can develop this country.
This is our home.
This is our life.
This is our future.